Ithelion responds to Shere's question, "Does your plan require we rest in the room with the coffins? We would be safer back with the kobolds. Trapped in a room with one exit is not ideal. Besides, I have a question I'd like to ask Meepo..."

"No Chiquita. it does not" He gestures "Lead the way" 

 We head back to Meepo's domain, and say "Ticklecorn! The baits have returned" at the door...

You are able to navigate the way back to the kobolds and at the sound of the password, the door is opened.  You see Meepo waiting there, big smile on his face.  "Meepo knew it you.  Welcome back, welcome back!"  He looks around you, "No dragon?"  He looks a bit disappointed.  He nods, "Ok, it's ok, ok...Maybe bait need more help?"  He brandishes his spear and pats the whip at his side.  "You know Meepo brave warrior, right?"  He sees Krom and Daemyar looking a bit rough and says, "Ooh, maybe you meet goblins, eh?  You okay?  Need food or water?  Maybe meat sticks or fungus tea?  It always help Meepo."

Garnet, you re-equip your shield, and you feel instantly more at ease.

Ithelion smiles brightly at Meepo. Since the death of the other kobold she had found herself oddly drawn to him: something more than a simple life-debt. His presence always cheered her. Another warrior might be nice, but losing him would be hard to bear. "Thank you, Meepo. We did meet the goblins, and a lot of rats, and there are three less goblins to trouble your people now. We also met a hobgoblin...but that business is unfinished" she says, glancing sidelong at Daemyar.

"Perhaps we could just rest here for a time, before continuing...", as she says this she removes her pack and places it one the ground, flexing her shoulders to loosen the contorted muscles. It's a long time since I used the bow so much in battle, but it feels good!

"...and while we rest and recover, perhaps you can tell me if there are other entries into the goblin area? They now expect us to return, no doubt, and it would be a perfect time to attack from a different direction -- if there is one?"

Quote from Ereshion >>

Ithelion smiles brightly at Meepo. Since the death of the other kobold she had found herself oddly drawn to him: something more than a simple life-debt. His presence always cheered her. Another warrior might be nice, but losing him would be hard to bear. "Thank you, Meepo. We did meet the goblins, and a lot of rats, and there are three less goblins to trouble your people now. We also met a hobgoblin...but that business is unfinished" she says, glancing sidelong at Daemyar.

"Perhaps we could just rest here for a time, before continuing...", as she says this she removes her pack and places it one the ground, flexing her shoulders to loosen the contorted muscles. It's a long time since I used the bow so much in battle, but it feels good!

"...and while we rest and recover, perhaps you can tell me if there are other entries into the goblin area? They now expect us to return, no doubt, and it would be a perfect time to attack from a different direction -- if there is one?"

 Meepo smiles at the mention of less goblins and his eyes widen at the mention of the hobgoblin, and his eyes dart to Daemyar - "Like him, right? Yes, Meepo know this.  There two of 'em.  Really mean and nasty.  They take dragon and kobold people!  Bizniss?  Oh, you mean like stuff - You want buy something?"  He beams. "Aha!  Kobold people real crafty.  We have making things, shiny things, all kinds of things!"  He looks proud.
He thinks for a moment before adding, "Hmm, yes there back way but Queen only have key.  It's back way but very trapped and everything locked.  Bit dangerous but maybe Meepo help!  You can rest with kobold people if want?  I take you if want - I can get place to sit?"

Ithelion's smile broadens at the mention of another way, "That might be useful indeed if the Queen would permit it; although Shere also mentioned he had a plan.  Perhaps the two might work together?" she glances at Shere.

"But first, a quiet place to sit and rest...we all need that...and perhaps you can tell me of the things your people make?"

Meepo talks to you as you walk, "Oh, kobold people make all kinds of things, we very good!  It more be like what you look for? What you look for, magicky hooman?"  Meepo goes quiet as he enters the queen's chamber and she doesn't seem to notice or care very much that he's there.  Her bodyguards eye you cautiously though.  You notice the door to the north that is still strongly guarded by stone-faced looking kobolds. They watch you carefully as you step in front of a large stone door.  Meepo whispers to you, "That the back way. They warriors don't listen to Meepo, only queen and special kobolds.  It go to goblin place - very, very dangerous - no one go in there, very locked and trapped.  Only go there if Queen say."  Meepo shouts "Ticklecorn!" and the stone door begins to open.  Immediately you are assailed by smoke from fires and the smell of food.  Your stomachs rumble despite having eaten a few hours ago.  You look in and see several small but smoky fires lighting this wide and high chamber. Spits, tanning racks, and other implements of a primitive culture are visible through the haze.  There is a faded outline on the floor and, looking at it for a little while, you determine it's an image of a dragon.   Several small figures busily work and play within the chamber.  As you step in, everyone stops to look at you and Meepo shouts something in his own language.  Most go back to what they were doing previously, some begin to get out some boxes and start to lay out items.  One group in the southwest corner start cleaning and arranging the straw beds.  Meepo points, "That where you can rest for while.  Kobold people nice but not see big folk often.  Meepo go now, be nice or people fight you!  Kobold people like trade and shiny things," he turns to leave but turns back, "Oh Meepo forget - No talking 'bout gnomey people, got it?!"

[what's available?  well you can say what you're looking for and i'll see if it's there.  there are no spells or anything like that, kobold people don't have that kind of thing.  you can take your short rest here].

Ithelion goes over to the area Meepo suggested, and examines the bedding...if it is dirty, she mutters over it as she rearranges it to her liking (cleaning it) then settles down. Finally she faces Shere, "So...you mentioned a plan?"

Krom finds a spot that is out of the way and sinks to the floor and starts to tend to his injuries. 

Hit dice: 12 (Not sure if we still get the song of rest bonus still, but just in case 2)

"Well rreally Chiquita I have a magical device that would grreatly influence a goblin if we could catch one if you folks would quit being so,

Triggerr happy.. But we now know the layout of that rroom if we can get by the 3ft wall without prroblem if the dead goblins are still there

We grrab the dead goblins toss them into the corridor so the goblins and hobgoblin will shoot at them. Then one of us has to throw caltrops to surrround the living goblinoids with it." He gives the Paladin and Cleric a blunt look "It means rranged weapons or lessor spells, we stay out of their reach No running into combat amigos. I have a spell called  Faerie Fire which should make it easier to hit them Think about it I have some work to do"

He starts singing his song of rest

“Hob? I didn’t see one. Where was He?” Daemyar finally pops out of his self absorption. 

(oops)

Ithelion looks up at Daemyar's question, "There was a hobgoblin as well as two more goblins in the next room, all behind another barrier. It tried to goad us into attacking, and seemed to know you, and mentioned another named Shamir. You know these hobgoblins?"

Daemyar nods. 
“Yes. I know them. Betrayers. They opened the gate. They took my chance for glory. Now, it’s.... well, it’s clearly gone, and I am destined for cowardice no matter how I may struggle.”

Ithelion frowns, "Destiny? Destiny is not set! It is a thing you have seize and then fight for! Fates...well, despite what people say, I believe they are mutable. The fates can be cruel, and life is all about fighting them to claim your rightful destiny."

She focuses closely on Daemyar, her frown deepening, "But you...I have seen no evidence of cowardice in you. You tell me that you were once a coward, I will believe you." She looks back on the direction they came from,  "If you compare yourself to that stubborn dwarf..." she nods in Krom's direction, "...well...standing in the middle of a fight waiting to die is not bravery. There's another word for that" she says, with a smile at Krom.

"But for your actions and mine -- in killing those goblins and the rat they woke -- he would likely be dead now. And the death would not have been heroic."

"A coward runs with no thought for others. You stood, grievously wounded, an defended your friends."

Now she turns to Shere, "Am I right bard? You sing of these things --and  likely know many heroic tales. Give us your judgement in this matter?"

"Daemyar seems like no coward to me. Even the great Knights retreat on the battlefield to come around and attack again. It is called....Sttrategy" he strums his lute "Archers should not go toe to toe and avoid getting hit. Fencers should know how to dart in and out with out getting hit. You no abandoned us and hit when it counted, I'm proud to fight by your side." 

Daemyar points at Garnet. “She sees it,  crystal clear.”

Meepo begins to walk away when he hears Ithelion say something about a "plan."  Thinking he might be of assistance and considering that he thinks he saved you from centipedes earlier, he stays within earshot.
When Shere talks about his plan, Meepo thinks hard and wonders about the possibilities...a bit of time passes and when the talk about Daemyar ends, the adventurer's notice Meepo they turn a bit awkwardly to him...

Meepo walks closer.  "Um, Meepo hear what you say - you need goblin scum? You know kobold people good fighters.  We maybe have goblin scum prisoners...unless Ceelo make soup already!"  Meepo looks at you.  "But you need talk to Queen 'bout this.  They her prisoners." 

Meepo looks to Daemyar with understanding and empathy.  "You know bait, Meepo not always so much braver than you like now.  When first have to train Calcryx, Meepo have kobold people make him some gooshy.  It make me feel stronger and braver.  Maybe you want to try....?"   He waits to see what you think.

Quote from nschrock >>

Daemyar points at Garnet. “She sees it,  crystal clear.”

Ithelion follows Daemyar's gaze to Garnet, and her face darkens considerably. "Her?" That one has more issues than Daemyar! I thought we shared a view of the world, but was clearly mistaken. "The warrior who chose to save a goblin above one of her own? You would use her as your guide? The warrior who chose to kill an abused animal as it was finally was getting revenge on its evil tormentors?" her tone is incredulous.

She shakes her head, "You are wrong. It is actions that mark a coward, nothing else. What other people accuse them of tells you more about the other people, than it does of yourself."

"Perhaps, once, you were a coward; but in this last week I have seen no such evidence."

(( Some time later, with Meepo ))

Ithelion looks up at the Kobold and listens as he speaks, glancing quickly at Shere at the mention of captives. "Meepo, you are truly a wise and resourceful kobold!"

"I think, we should definitely speak to the queen when we are rested. We may have means to ... to gather information from her prisoners. And that could benefit us all."

Shere simply lowers his head and shakes it in disapproval covering his  face with his hat he sends a message  to Ithelion

"Chiquita do not give out too much information, or promise it, less we could be robbed or end up as stew, but I guess its too late. We are considered as meepo says bait. Be more careful how you word things"  

He quietly growls at himself as he realizes himself that he was too open in front of the mini dragons